Emirates launched its first flights to Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, on Tuesday.
On board were a senior delegation from the Dubai carrier including Adnan Kazim, deputy president and chief commercial officer; and Adil Al Ghaith, senior vice president of commercial operations for the Gulf, Middle East and Central Asia.
Departing Dubai International’s Terminal 3 at 7.40am local time, flight EK707 landed at the Ivato International Airport at 2.30pm local time. The flight included a 90-minute layover at Seychelles International Airport.
Antananarivo marks the airline’s latest destination in the Indian Ocean, which includes flights to cities in Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles. Home to three Unesco World Heritage sites, Madagascar has a burgeoning eco-tourism sector and diverse landscape ranging from rainforests and national parks to beaches and atolls.
Flying four times a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday), the route is serviced by a Boeing 777-300 with first, business and economy-class cabins. There is capacity for up to 360 passengers. Return services depart at 6.35pm local time, landing at 4.20am in Dubai the following day. The new route is an expression of the growing relationship between the island nations and the UAE, according to Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina.
“This relationship has really come to reality,” he said at the launch event. “Thanks to our shared willingness and hard work we were able to achieve this. This is a historical moment and it will trigger the tourism and economic development of our country.
“Emirates will now connect our country to the world. It is one way to hasten development in our country so this is a really important moment. This will also increase the number of tourists visiting our dear country and already a lot of big hotels want to invest here because Emirates is coming here.
“As you know Madagascar has a lot of national resources that need to be exported. Our island has treasures to value and now we have to focus on developing our resources in order to accelerate the development of our country.”
With the Malagasy government aiming to attract one million tourists by 2028, Kazim says the Emirates service is an opportunity for travellers to experience an underrated location. “Madagascar is a new and exciting destination on our vast global network, unlocking a world of natural wonders, rare and diverse wildlife, and a rich, vibrant culture,” he said.
As well as tourists, each flight can carry 22 tonnes of cargo, Kazim added. “This will be welcomed by the business community from both Madagascar and the UAE and there are plenty of opportunities to export fruits, vegetables, textiles and vanilla,” he said. “There are a lot of opportunities that come from this route and we view this as only the beginning of this journey with Madagascar and the UAE.”
For captain Solo Chuk, a Malagasy pilot who has been flying for Emirates for 14 years, being in the cockpit for the flight home was a dream come true. “Today's flight is really special. For many years I used to fly around the area and see Madagascar from far away, so to fly finally home is really special," he said.
The Antananarivo launch comes after Emirates bolstered its South American network with daily flights from Dubai to the Colombian capital Bogota in June.
Emirates also relaunched daily flights to Phnom Penh, Cambodia – via Singapore – from May. Five additional flights to Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires are also slated to begin on December 7.
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
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6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
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8.50pm: The Entisar Listed Dh265,000 (D) 2,000m
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9.25pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Ibn Malik, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi.
10pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Midnight Sands, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
SERIE A FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Sassuolo v Bologna (11.45pm)
Saturday
Brescia v Torino (6pm)
Inter Milan v Verona (9pm)
Napoli v Genoa (11.45pm)
Sunday
Cagliari v Verona (3.30pm)
Udinese v SPAL (6pm)
Sampdoria v Atalanta (6pm)
Lazio v Lecce (6pm)
Parma v Roma (9pm)
Juventus v Milan (11.45pm)
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Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
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The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes
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Academics: Phd in strategic management in University of Wales
Number one caps: His best-seller caps are in shades of grey, blue, black and yellow
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Sport: Started playing polo two years ago. Helps him relax, plus he enjoys the speed and focus
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
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Biography
Favourite Meal: Chicken Caesar salad
Hobbies: Travelling, going to the gym
Inspiration: Father, who was a captain in the UAE army
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Favourite film: The Founder, about the establishment of McDonald's
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The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry
Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 298hp @ 6,600rpm
Torque: 356Nm @ 4,700rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
